Do I have to pay for an eye test?

 

The eye test is free if:

You are under 16 or under 19 and in full time education.
You or your partner receive income support or family credit.
You or your partner receive income-based job seekers allowance.
You or your partner receive disability working allowance and have £8000 or less in savings.
You are entitled to vouchers for complex lenses.
You have diabetes or glaucoma.
You are aged 40 or over and are the parent/brother/sister/child of a person with glaucoma.
You are registered blind or partially sighted.
You have a low income and possess certificate HC2.

If you think you qualify for free eye tests, let us know beforehand as you will have to complete and sign an NHS Sight Test Form.

If you subsequently need spectacles, we will give you an NHS voucher to cover the cost of the lenses. The NHS will not pay for frames but we provide FREE spectacles for children and either FREE plastic frames or a subsidised range of quality metal frames at £29.95 for adults. If you wish to have contact lenses and they are suitable for you, you can contribute the voucher value towards their cost.

I am on a low income. Do I still have to pay?

The NHS Low Income Scheme may be able to help you. To claim, you will need to fill in an HC1 form, which you can get from us or your doctor, social security office, dentist or pharmacist. It takes 4 weeks to assess a claim and if you are eligible, you will be sent either:

Certificate HC2 - This entitles you to free eye tests and free lenses.
or
Certificate HC3 - This determines how much you will have to pay towards your eye test and glasses or contact lenses before the NHS will contribute.

You are ineligible to apply if you or your partner have:

more than £8000 in savings

more than £16000 if you live permanently in a residential care home or nursing home (if you have a partner, any savings that they have are counted with yours)

or if you or your partner are getting:

Income Support

Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance

Family Credit

Disability Working Allowance

Please note form HC1 can also be used:

to claim help for NHS prescriptions ~ NHS dental treatment ~ NHS wigs and fabric supports ~ Travel to hospital for NHS treatment

to claim help for you, your partner or your children

at any time before you need treatment as you don't have to wait until you need help with paying health costs

to claim money back up to 3 months after you or your partner have already paid for something

I do have to pay. How much will it cost?

Sight Test Fee:
Currently, our Sight Test Fee is £13.50

Click below for further information

Frames
Lenses
Contact Lenses
Offers

Written quotes:
We are happy to provide written quotes on request. Simply bring in or send us your current prescription.

Click here for details about our interest free credit scheme.